How to reduce the cost of architectural renderings?

Whether you’re a real estate professional, designer, architect or developer, you’re no doubt convinced that architectural perspectives are a major asset in your communications. However, many of you may be reluctant to consider the price of a 3D visual, which can quickly exceed €500 when the project is quite complex.

To understand how to lower the cost of an interior rendering, you need to understand the components that vary its price. Here’s a quick overview.

#1.Reduce the number of views to lower the cost of an interior rendering

When the project calls for it, you’ll sometimes need several angles of view to best describe your project. Here, the cost of an interior rendering will depend on whether you choose several angles of view of the same space, or whether you want to go around the room.

For example, if you take a living room, you’ll probably choose an overall view. But you might also want to highlight details such as materials or storage tips. In this case, you’ll want to zoom in on a few key spots. If the scene has already been built, zooming in will be very inexpensive.

On the other hand, if you want to turn the camera completely around, to show an American kitchen opening onto the living room, this view will be counted as a scene in its own right, as the entire space will have to be reconstructed.

#2. Details matter

When we create an interior perspective, we always ask for plans of the space to be represented, as well as a detailed brief. This enables us to reproduce the project perfectly, and saves us expensive round-trips.
Usually, the brief includes inspirational images that give us an idea of the decorative style we’re aiming for. But when you’re dealing with an interior designer, things can get complicated. If the decorator wants very specific pieces of furniture, with textures perfectly similar to those required, our graphic designers may have to model the furniture or digitize the textures. This work usually adds to the cost of the architectural perspective.

Therefore, to reduce the cost of interior rendering, some of you may prefer to base your project on specifications including inspirational images, and leave it to the 3D artist to furnish according to the chosen decorating style.

#3. Corrections influence the cost of an interior rendering

To pick up on the previous point, when the customer is extremely fussy but his specifications are not clear enough, he may ask for numerous corrections to the visuals produced.

At Studio 3D, we always offer the first 2 corrections. The first version is rarely the right one: modifications are very often requested. The second version can easily be fine-tuned following the customer’s indications. The last version is usually the right one.

That’s why, from the 3rd version onwards, we charge by the time and half-day spent (i.e. €100). It is therefore crucial for the customer to specify all the changes he wishes to make in the first or second version, so as not to increase the cost of an interior rendering.

#4. Style can determine the price of an architectural 3D visualization

Between a Scandinavian style, distinguished by uncluttered furnishings, and a highly sought-after Baroque atmosphere such as that favored by Middle Easterners, the work involved in building the scene will be very different.

So the cost of an interior rendering can also depend on the style you want for your scene. The 3D artist won’t spend as much time building a minimalist decor as he would reproducing convoluted moldings or ornamentation.

To keep the cost of a 3D architectural perspective down, you’ll want to keep the decor simple, modern and unadorned.

#5. Resolution and visual type influence the cost of an interior rendering

3D allows real estate professionals to present their projects in many different ways. In addition to architectural perspectives, 360° scenes or virtual animations can now be used to showcase a real estate project. Of course, creating a 360° view takes longer (you have to build the entire space and render it), as does a video, which is a succession of renderings (25/s) where the camera moves slightly – like a cartoon.

The resolution of a visual also has an impact on the cost of an interior rendering. In fact, while HD rendering (1080p resolution) of a visual by the computer takes around 1 hour for a powerful machine, it takes over 4 hours for 4K resolution. And when the computer is busy rendering the visual, it can’t be used. We “condemn” this machine for the time it takes to render, and this delay must therefore be passed on to the cost of an interior rendering.

So, when estimating an architectural perspective project, it’s essential to understand your needs in terms of deliverables. Do you really need 4K resolution? Will a 360° view pay for itself? Will it add real value to your presentation?

#6. The number of visuals will influence the quote

We explained that reducing the number of views could reduce the cost of an interior rendering. But paradoxically, the more views you order, the cheaper they will be.

In fact, at Studio 3D, the more visuals you order, the bigger the discount we’ll apply to your order. Our commercial policy is in your favor if we sign a long-term partnership. So whatever your business, it’s in your interest to outsource your real estate renderings to us!

#7. Extreme customization of decorative elements increases the price of a visual

Some customers want every element of the interior design perspective to be unique, from the shape of a vase to the smallest piece of furniture. In this case, 3D graphic designers are obliged to model the furnishings, element by element, which has a major influence on the cost of an architectural visual.

However, there is an alternative that allows customers to personalize their scene. Simply choose from our extensive library of 3D objects and textures. Instead of reproducing the desired piece of furniture, we can offer a very similar substitute.
The same applies to very rare textures or materials that would need to be reproduced for the occasion. And obviously, the more complex the texture, the more time the 3D artist will spend reproducing that material – and will have an impact on the cost of an interior rendering.

#8. Beware of urgent projects

the cost of an interior rendering depends on the complexity of the architectural perspective and the degree of customization.
Your project can’t wait? Do you need a visual for your presentation on a tight deadline? We can handle it, but of course this has an impact on the cost of an interior rendering.

Because when a visual has to be executed very quickly, it has to move to the top of the queue, even if it means delaying the projects of customers who ordered before you. And naturally, to complete a 3D real estate rendering quickly, our graphic designers will have to work overtime to deliver the project on time.

As you can imagine, these emergency measures have an impact on the price of an architectural visual. So always avoid ordering at the last minute to lower the cost of an interior rendering!

#9. The size of the spaces to be reproduced affects the price

At Studio 3D, we charge by the time spent. Consequently, the larger and more complex the space, the higher the cost of an interior rendering. For example, it’s obvious that a bathroom won’t take as long to complete as an elaborate restaurant.

However, when a project includes several spaces, we tend to charge on a lump-sum basis. For example, if a hotel project consists of a lobby, a restaurant and a suite with bathroom, we’ll count that as a lump sum for 4 spaces, considering that the bedroom and bathroom will compensate for the complexity of the lobby and restaurant.

As you can see, estimating the cost of an interior rendering depends on a large number of factors. That’s why we always ask for plans and the type of decoration you’d like to achieve in order to draw up a precise estimate. Do you have a project in mind and would like an estimate for your architectural visuals? Don’t hesitate to contact us!

To give you a concrete idea of the cost of an interior rendering, here’s an example of an estimate we could draw up for the production of 4 visuals: a staging of a sofa, an armchair, a coffee table + 3 versions of the furniture in different colors: